Judging from the over-the-top reaction that Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr. displayed following the premiere episode of “American Idol” on Wednesday, we have to wonder whether the politician even lives in the boogie-down borough he represents. Does Díaz even know what’s happening in The Bronx?

Diaz’s ire was sparked by the story of 16-year-old Travis Orlando, an “Idol” hopeful who was asked to talk about growing up in The Bronx. He responded, “It was tough. Gangs, drugs, violence.”

This was apparently too much truth for Díaz.

“I am thoroughly disgusted with the treatment of The Bronx on ‘American Idol’ last night. Rather than focus on the amazing revitalization The Bronx has seen over the past three decades, the producers of the show chose instead to highlight the negative stereotypes that have plagued our borough for years,” Díaz said in a statement.

The truth is that if the producers of “American Idol” really wanted to malign The Bronx they could have mentioned that the county leads New York City in unemployment rates. They could have also reported that out of the 536 murders committed in 2010 in all of New York City, 127 took place in The Bronx.

Interestingly enough, on Thursday evening, as Díaz was spewing his indignation against the “American Idol” team on local TV, a 24-year old black male was shot dead in front of 665 E. 163rd Street. That location is in the 42nd Precinct, which happens to be one of the precincts that Diaz’s office serves.

The folks at “American Idol” could have also reported that the nation’s poorest Congressional District, the 16th, represented by José E. Serrano, is part of the borough that Díaz is so proud of. The producers could have even focused on the 38% of residents currently living below the poverty line in Serrano’s district. Or maybe they could have told America that half of the children in the district are impoverished.

The Bronx is certainly not burning like it was in the 1970s. But it does continue to have some serious social problems. Rather than ignoring reality, maybe Díaz should talk about how to tackle the problems, not pretend that they aren’t there.